Spring-gear for vehicles



(No Model.)

H. W. HAMELL, SPRING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 340,503. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

UNITED STATES HENRY w. HAMELL, or POTSDAM, NEW YORK.

SPRING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 340,503, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed February 26, Iii-"86. Serial No. 193,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM HAM- ELL, of Potsdam, in the county of St. Lawrence, in the State of New York, one of the United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Running-Gears; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved running-gear. Fig. 2 is a plan of the fore end of the reach. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the reach and head-block, showing connection. Fig. 4. is a vertical section of the connection of side and platform springs. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shackle connecting side springs with rear axle. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the leaves of the side spring, showing their relative form independently. Fig. Sis an'elevation of the shackle-connection of the side spring and rear axle for two-seated vehicles, 850. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same.

The object of the invention is to obtain easyriding motion, lightness 0t construction, and durability.

My invention consists of side springs composed of leaves, the upper ones crowning at the middle and the lower ones depressed, so that when drawn together by a bolt the springs at the middle will be approximately straight for the greater portion of theirlength, the ends then curving downwardly and attached to the head-block and hung in shackles having arms extendlng upwardly and journaled to rock in bearings secured to the rear axle, to allow of the elongation of the springs and cause the middle portion of the springs to curve downwardly when the ends are under tension; also, in connecting the side springs and platformsprings by clips, the ends of said platformsprings having a half-round downward projection to bear on the tie-bar of the clip, to preyent the platform-spring from ordinary canting.

A is the fore and B the rear axle;

C is the wooden stock on the top of the axle, longitudinally therewith; D, the head-block; E, the reach, and F the stays therefrom to the rear axle.

G G are side springs, one end shackled to the head-block and the other end supported by a pin passing through one end of ashackle, consisting of an open link, H, the lower endjour- J naled in a hearing, I, having a covering-plate, J, and clipped to the rear axle, whereby the link will stand erectly in its bearing and rock, to yield to the elongation of side springs when under tension. The lowerleaves of springsG G are bent downwardly at the middle, and the top leaves are bent upwardly, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when bolted together at the middle thesprings will be straight at top, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends curving downwardly to their bearings.

K K are transverse springs connecting the side springs at or near the curve at the ends by clips L L. The lower leaf of each spring K is formed with a turn or downward projection at the ends, and bears on the tie-bar of the clips, passing through an elongated hole, L in the spring, to allow the spring to slide endwise on its bearings when under tension. lhe transverse springsK K are preferably straight at the middle where clipped tot-he floor-bearing M.

When thesprings are under tension, the ends of the side'spring outwardly from clips L L will straighten, and the portion between the clips curve downwardly, whereby the spring will assume a wave form and conduce to easy riding, the transverse springs at the same time yielding to the pressure.

To the under side of the fore end of the reach, and projecting therefrom under the front axle, is bolted a plate, N, which is provided with a hole coinciding with a hole, N, in the reach and on the opposite side of the axle a hole, N, said holes receiving the lower end of T-shaped irons 0, provided with jam-nuts to secure them to plate N at the outer end and to plate N and the reach at the inner end, and the top of the irons are bolted to the head-block interveningly, whereby the reach will be connected rigidly to the head-block. A king-bolt, P, passes through head-block, fifthwheel, axle, and plate N, to allow the axle to turn in the ordinary manner.

I The V-shaped reach plates Q,

is re-enforcedwith flat to combine strength and lightness of material. The side springs at the bearings, of the transverse springs have a less tendency to yield than bolted flatwise to the vertical sides,

at any other part, and hence the transverse springs will have no tendency to cant.

The bottom leaf, G, of springs G G is foreshortened and the ends bent downward, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, to stop against the edge of springs K K and. tie the clips against lateral movement. The links H may be con nected by a rod, M, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6,) whereby the links will move in union and prevent the rear ends of the side springs from working back and forth unequally.

In two-seated vehicles, where the side springs have to be longer than for one-seated vehicles, the linksHare seated in abearing, R, and said bearings are notched into the wood and clipped to the axle, as shown in Fig. 8, and to re-enforce the side springs when longer length is requlred a bar of wood may be clipped to-the top of the springs G G, to stiffen them along I platform-springs K K, having elongated holes the flat top.

I claim as my invention 1. A spring for vehicles, composed of along leaf having eyes formed in the ends thereof and one or more shorter leaves, the long leaf and lowershortleaf being arched downwardly and the upper leaves being arched upwardly, and the two sets of leaves drawn together by bolt or clips, so that the middle portion of the springs shall be approximately straight, with downwardly-curved ends, as set forth.

2. A platform cross-spring having a downward projection across the ends of the lower leaf and an elongated hole transversely thereto, as set forth.

3. A shackle for spring-bearings, consisting of a bearing, 1, link H, and covering J, as set forth.

4. The combination of a shackle for springbearings, consisting of a bearing, I, link H, and covering J, said shackle being clipped to the under side of hind axle, and the link standing in an upright position and its lower end resting in the bearing and the upper end attached to side spring, as set forth.

5. The combination of the side springs, G G, having the lower leaf. G foreshortened, of the L and 01 ips L L, whereby the platform springs are supported on the clip-ties, as set forth.

HENRY HAMELL.

\Vitnesses:

E. F. FULTON, A. A. SENTER. 

